I am not a fan of Benjamin Britten, but funnily enough I love this first movement of this concerto, it is so different from other stuff he has written, probably because it has become family as it was used in the TV series of Sherlock Holmes. Excellent playing by the way and treatment of these lovely but strange tunes . Very technically demanding to play.

Thank you for sharing your musical life with us. I am an amateur musician. I carefully choose my repertoire when playing in public. I would only play Bach in private treating the partitas and sonatas as learning curves for musical and technique. I learnt a lot looking at the way you practice. I noticed that you don't use a metronome. I have to have a metronome going or some external beat. In public, I enjoy playing with other musicians at sessions and folk clubs. The violin and music is sociable instrument, I always enjoy the social interaction of it. I think this modern age of high expectations of perfect recordings creates anxiety unnecessarily.

I have this too. I start shaking so badly that the microphone in my hands almost dropped. And then my whole body starts shaking too. It doesn’t happen all the time but I never know when it will happen. Luckily I don’t have high stakes I just sing for fun at karaoke events. Just annoyed at the level of anxiety I still experience But I tease good to find your video because it made me feel that I’m not alone in this

I have severe performance anxiety and it jeopardises my performance in public. You are the first person that I hear that is, in my opinion, completely honest about it. The same phrases that you cite have been fed to me and don't work at all! I have been asked to focus on a toe as a tip to calm my nerves.!!!! (:0). just to say thank you! I Will follow your videos for more advice

Thank you. I struggle very much performance anxiety. So similar to what you describe. ❤

❤

Your playing is amazing. Such an inspiration ❤❤❤

Your tips are spot on and can be, and will be applied to my dance performance anxiety! Thank you so much!!!! How easy was it to get a beta blocker prescription?

I was born with an essential tremor where my body really over-reacts to stressful situations. I use propranolol and it is the only thing other than alcohol that works for me. Alcohol does work but is hit and miss and wears off quickly whereas a 40mg propranolol tablet taken an hour before performing lasts for 4 hours or so.

I get physically sick to my stomach. Nerves never go away.

Hi Joyce, thank you for sharing. Are you still taking beta blocker for your performance anxiety? How long has it been since your first time taking it and any side effects? Also, I'm interested to know your other methods to address performance anxiety 😊

I’m trying so hard to do this work presentation without propranolol to test out of training, it’s days away, and I’ve been feeling so sick from anxiety that my stomach is hurting so bad and I feel like I barely can eat, am shaking, etc. just in anticipation. I think we need to remind ourselves that everyone is different, and it’s okay if we really need to use something that helps us. I’m having a hard time excepting that right now, but I’m feeling like this amount of stress and anxiety over one presentation is worse on my body and mind. Thanks for sharing your story!

i have a vocal competition today and your video really helped me. my anxiety gets so bad that my brain goes black and i can’t breathe (& lately ive been throwing up before i walk on stage). im considering what u mentioned abt medication bc i feel so hindered and helpless when i get like this. thanks for making ppl like us feel seen :-) ur tips are the first to help me in yrs

Well played! Excellent! ;-)

You and I have very similar internalizations when it comes to performance anxiety. This was such a comfort knowing that I'm not alone and that you've also found ways to overcome your fears. I've been able to work through mine with some positive affirmations from colleagues I well respected. If it came from anyone else, I probably would have thought it was a nice compliment but it didn't have as much weight as it did from someone else whose opinion carried more weight. I've found that this helped me to build more confidence and remove some doubt, but I still get extremely nervous with every presentation. BUT, I've been able to work through it and do well for the most part with this so far and I'm always looking for new methods to erasing doubts while presenting. Thanks for sharing your story!

Very beautiful Joyce 😊

I just played the last performance of my college career and your tips helped me a lot. I had literally made myself sick with anxiety leading up to it, but knowing that this truly is a common experience made me feel much less alone and I was able to perform well even with the anxiety. ❤

I get imposter syndrome when I perform.

I was rehearsing Thursday and my directress told me I am supposed to be prepared when I had just overcome the flu. I told her I had been sick and groggy. So I just ignored that and kept going 😢

Hahhaha so relatable

Hi Joyce. I know this video is a few years old, so I’m not sure if the performance anxiety issue is still impacting you. But I appreciate all the points you made in this video. Your sincerity and vulnerability is beautiful and brave. I work in the mental health field, and I have also dealt with performance anxiety and have utilized beta blockers in a way similar to how you use them. I have gone in a difficult direction the last couple of years and I no longer use them. Ultimately they seemed to undermine genuine confidence for me. I’m glad I had them though when performing well was critical. I do want to suggest an approach that is making a huge difference for me. It’s based on some proven treatment modalities. It’s called D.A.R.E. and is based on the work of Barry McDonough who suffered from panic attacks himself. The book is an easy read, but it’s also worthwhile to download the audiobook as the author describes his journey in his Irish accent. He has a beautiful voice. The “acceptance” that you alluded to is an essential feature of this program. I hope you’ll check it out. You seem like an amazing person to me, and I think you can make strides with this issue that will surprise you. Best wishes!

I've been taking Inderal for many years. I think that my meticulous practice and the Beta blocker gets me to a point where I can handle my fear. I still have to rely on my preparation and my talent, but it is less daunting when I breathe normally and my thoughts don't go to the negative realm of performing.

Thank you . I have a terrible fear of performing .

This is a very good rendition. Hard piece to play.

Have you tried CBD? Full spectrum CBD has a minute amount of THC so if you are getting rested it could show up. But I have found that it helps you stay in the present moment and to be more in touch with what you like about your activity.

Your tip number one really helped me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I don't feel nervous on stage I just notice my playing getting worse as I over think.

It is disingenuous she talks about beta blockers at the end. This is the only real solution for people with profound performance anxiety (other than benzos which long term may result in problems, ie someone considering a career in performance). Let's talk honestly about performance anxiety. Deep breathing does not work in the throes of profound pa, bc you literally cannot breath deeply. That and affirmations are for people with manageable anxiety.

I was gun shy about taking medication but I learned about Propranolol. It blocks the adrenaline and stress hormones so physically you won’t feel the racing heart nor heavy breathing. My anxiety sky rockets in presentations and large meetings. Propranolol was the best thing that happened to me in my career.

Damm I didn't want to listen a "random Korean violinist". Foolish me. Great job.

I play a brass instrument and I shake so so much that my instrument doesn't even stay on my face and I feel like I'm going to fall over. I have an A-level performance exam tomorrow and I hope these help me. I absolutely hate that I hate performing and I wish I could enjoy it but it is so much stress.

That was awesome!

Thank you for opening up this discussion. I had my first violin recital today, and started playing 2 yrs ago. I am an empath/HSP. I was very triggered playing in public, even though it was mostly with kids at an assisted living home. My hand started shaking so much, I could hardly play. Afterwards, we had to sit up front and I couldn't stop coughing. Finally, I just decided to leave and calm down. I went into the recital feeling totally prepared, and left thoroughly embarrassed. I want victory over this. By nature, an empath does not thrive in this type of situation. I hope to overcome it. When I sing at church, it is much more natural, but I want to be able to express myself on violin.

Thank you for the tips, youre an angel

Gorgeous sound

Cool, but Ling Ling practices 40 hours a day :/

I really REALLY enjoyed this video. I, myself, as a comedian, have been dealing with a newfound issue of performance anxiety. I have been performing for over 12 years now and it just started out of nowhere. I’m on a little break right now but have my first show back on 3/11 and really found your video soothing and comforting to me knowing others deal with this stupid thing. Haha! Thank you!

This is very helpful. As a singer, I sometimes lose my motivation to keep practicing. Please make live sessions if possible.💛

Thank you so much. You have a wonderful sweet and direct manner. I am 72 and still fall into these traps. Sharing your experience- just that alone, is healing. I wish you well in all you do, and thank you so much for this video, which I plan to watch many more times.

Really great video! Thank you for sharing!!!❤

it feels a bit odd (especially for this one as I'm a flautist not a violinist) but these types of videos help me practice. maybe it's just a motivating factor to see someone else practicing too. anyway thank you for this, nice one.

Personally, I've lost the ability to play live. Used to handle it well 10 years ago, I was a promising guitarist. Playing shows for 300-400 people quite regularly. Then I tried to apply into schools to become a professional guitarist. My guitar teacher (up until that) said I have a great chance, because I already outplay some of the teachers in those schools (his words). But even when I handled shows and had the chops, I totally failed when it mattered. The judges staring at you was nerve wrecking. Because I knew this is my only shot, until next year. I played like 20-30% of my real ability. Total lockup, every time. I had Beta blockers too. Now I haven't played live in years anymore, I just play alone as a hobby and work a regular job I hate, don't have the time to practice as much anymore. I've become a lot less confident overall. I lost my thunder. Not sure if I can ever again play live. I'm introverted so it always was tough for me, no idea how I pulled it off younger. It's some kind of grim irony that God gives you the gift of music, but then he also makes you a hopeless introvert.

When I would have performance anxiety (just today) my face literally turns bright red and I start heating up😔😅

Beautifull! Do you practice 2h everyday?

dude this is awesome. how have u been playing here? I'm going to starting playing violin so i can play prokofiev's sonata op 115

Thank you so much for being so transparent in this because I relate to everything you feel with anxiety. ur tips helped me so much more than any other video on youtube. Thanks!

Omg I didn't know this types of video existed thx for posting

What a wonderfully honest video. My music is at a much lower level than yours. I play guitar and sing, sometimes alone, often with others at the pub. I feel no particular anxiety about that as it's a very relaxed and informal setting. However, in my 60s I discovered the work of some amazingly talented fingerstyle guitarists and set off to learn this technique for myself. It has been almost like learning a new instrument from scratch. I have over an hour's worth of fingerstyle tunes with accompaniment that I can play from memory. When playing at home to my wife or the dog, I sound okay. Sometimes it flows so well I wonder if it's me playing at all. Then, when I try to play in public, at the pub, or in a more formal setting I get exactly the anxieties that you describe. I can probably cope until I play something slightly wrong, or I feel it isn't as good as it could be. Then the fingers start to shake so badly that I miss notes and lose the thread. It's like I'm using someone else's fingers which suddenly feel as fat as sausages! I often have to stop and apologise, which doesn't aid the confidence going forward. The deep breathing sounds an interesting idea. Doubt I'll go down the beta blocker route, as I'm only doing this for fun, not to earn a living. Good luck with all your future endeavours!